TCWSITD – Chapter 68

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Chapter 68 – Jealousy

What kind of existence was Lin Jiang in the eyes of his fans?

He’s the embodiment of purity and perfection—the untouchable white moonlight. Anyone who could truly match him would have to be extraordinary in every possible way: reliable, talented, and unshakeable.

Although Shen Ju had recently managed to clean up his image a bit, his dark history still left people deeply concerned. They feared that one day, Shen Ju might suddenly lose his temper, pack up, and abandon Lin Jiang without a second thought.

Because he really did seem utterly unreliable!

Lin Jiang’s fans couldn’t take it anymore and poured out their grievances online. Many expressed understanding because, after all, Shen Ju gave off a cold, heartless, and scumbag vibe.

Not to mention, he was younger, with nearly a three-year age gap between them. By the time Lin Jiang retired, Shen Ju would still be active in the scene, facing all sorts of temptations in the dazzling world. Who could guarantee he wouldn’t change his heart?

Just thinking about it made Lin Jiang’s fans want to cry.

[Shen Ju is completely unreliable!]

However, Shen Ju’s fans had a different perspective.

[Just because he looks like a scumbag doesn’t mean he actually is.]

[Shen Ju has never been in a relationship. I think if this guy commits, he’ll commit hard.]

[Anyone who watches his streams often knows he’s actually quite sincere. He remembers everyone who’s helped or taken care of him.]

[Just based on him playing through the finals with an injury and hiding it to avoid worrying Lin Jiang, I’d say he’s pretty damn solid.]

[Relax, okay? Trust Lin Jiang’s judgment. When has LinJiang ever made a bad choice?]

[And let’s be honest, very few people are actually good enough for Lin Jiang.]

That last point was undeniably true. No matter who Lin Jiang ended up with, his fans would always find something to worry about.

Even when Tian Baby was rumored to be his girlfriend, many argued that their careers were too different, making it hard to meet often. Some even speculated that Lin Jiang kept it private to protect her career.

In that sense, Shen Ju at least had one advantage—he could stay by Lin Jiang’s side anytime, anywhere.

Maybe what Lin Jiang valued most was companionship?

The exposure of Lin Jiang’s relationship sparked massive discussions, even dredging up an old rumor from his KUG days.

Back then, many had shipped Lin Jiang and He Gu. They met when they were young, were both outstanding, and pursued their dreams together. In every way, they seemed highly compatible. But for some reason, He Gu went abroad, and the two gradually drifted apart, leading to the slow demise of their ship.

Some longtime fans lamented:

[If Young Master He hadn’t gone abroad back then, would Shen Ju even have had a chance?]

Bad ending scenarios always attract the most scrutiny, and countless curious netizens began digging into Lin Jiang and He Gu’s past.

He Gu rarely appeared in the public eye. Almost every time he was photographed, it was with Lin Jiang—watching Lin Jiang train, attending Lin Jiang’s matches, moving his office to the same floor, observing Lin Jiang’s interviews.

With such careful digging, countless “sweet moments” were uncovered.

Seeing the two of them together was mesmerizing: brimming with ambition, radiating pride, a presence so commanding it seemed to tower over everything else.

New fans were going crazy over them!

[Ahhhh! The classic powerhouse duo! I can’t even imagine how strong these two would be together. Would there even be any rivals left in the scene?]

[Not just in the scene. They’d be invincible everywhere!]

[I’m crying, why did I only discover them after they’d already ended!]

[Does anyone know why Young Master He went abroad?]

[I heard it was to study the Al industry overseas. He’s already achieved great success there.]

[I heard it was because of family reasons.]

[Feels like Lin Jiang has moved on, but Young Master He hasn’t.]

[The first thing he did after returning was deal with KUG forcing Lin Jiang out. Clearly, he came back to stand up for him!]

[They were the most dazzling people each had met in their youth!]

[Who’s crying? I’m crying!]

The deeper they dug, the more bittersweet it became. No one knew for sure whether Lin Jiang and He Gu had ever been together, only that their story never reached a proper ending.

Just then, He Gu unveiled his new Al venture, holding a grand press conference.

He spoke eloquently and strategically during the event. When a reporter asked about his love life, he paused for a long time. “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Could you repeat the question?”

Netizens went wild.

[Ahhhh! Who was he thinking about at that moment?!!]

[Does anyone get it? That pause felt like he was reliving so much, only to lose it all again!]

[He can recite a 7,000-word script but can’t remember a casual question from a reporter!]

[One moment calm and collected, the next completely lost in thought.]

The video was wildly edited, paired with Lin Jiang, with three big words stamped on it: “Bittersweet!”¹意难平 (yì nán píng) – often used for unresolved relationships or emotional situations.

Shen Ju scrolled through his tablet, growing increasingly irritated. “What nonsense are these people spouting? You and that He guy have nothing to do with each other. Why are they shipping you like this?”

Lin Jiang lifted his head from the sofa and gave him a look.

He just smiled quietly, saying nothing.

Shen Ju kept scrolling until he came across footage of He Gu attending Lin Jiang’s matches, with fans raving about “a fairy-tale romance.” He finally snapped. “What’s wrong with the KUG boss watching KUG matches? Is that so weird?!”

Like an exasperated little puppy, he grumbled and cursed for a while before tossing the tablet aside and rushing to Lin Jiang for comfort. “I feel miserable, quickly comfort me.”

Lin Jiang reached over and patted his head, calming him somewhat.

The puppy wasn’t satisfied. He nuzzled insistently into Lin Jiang’s palm. “I’m really upset, can’t-even-eat upset. Lin Jiang, I need a kiss to feel better…”

Lin Jiang finally set his book aside, took off his glasses, and leaned down to kiss him. “Better now?”

Shen Ju felt a little better, but not enough.

He buried his head in Lin Jiang’s chest, his voice muffled, “Promise me you won’t go online for a while, okay? Lately the internet is full of people saying nonsense.”

Lin Jiang smiled, put his glasses back on, and picked up his book. “I wasn’t planning to anyway. I already warned you that the hype online would last a short while, but you wouldn’t listen.”

Shen Ju had been basking in the joy of their public relationship these past few days, scrolling through fans’ well-wishes while remaining oblivious to everything else. By the time he noticed, the entire internet was obsessing over Lin Jiang and He Gu’s so-called””expired sugar.”

He frowned in confusion. “You and that He guy never even crossed paths. What exactly are they obsessing over? And he didn’t even bother clarifying at the press conference…”

The fingers flipping through the book stilled for a moment. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a quiet glow over them.

He lifted his eyes briefly before lowering them again.

His fingers unconsciously traced Shen Ju’s earlobe as he debated whether to explain properly.

Suddenly Shen Ju rolled over beside him, eyes sparkling. “Lin Jiang, let’s do it! Once we do, I won’t think about these things anymore!”

Lin Jiang: ?

He used the book in his hands to smack him on the butt.

Ever since going public, Shen Ju had been like an animal in heat, pressing against Lin Jiang’s waist and begging for intimacy at every opportunity.

Lin Jiang remained cool, leaning back on the sofa while using his foot to keep Shen Ju at bay. Just the slight arch of his eyebrow was enough to be tantalizing. “I have an event tomorrow. Not today.”

Undeterred, Shen Ju pleaded, “Then you do me.”

This had become Shen Ju’s foolproof trick. He knew Lin Jiang could never bear to hurt him, so he pushed his luck shamelessly.

Lin Jiang wasn’t falling for it. “My back hurts. I can’t do you.”

Shen Ju nuzzled against him like an eager little puppy, his gaze darkening. “Then I’ll do all the work?” He kissed Lin Jiang’s knuckles, his voice dropping lower. “Lin Jiang, I want to make you happy too.”

The translucent jade Guanyin pendant around Shen Ju’s neck swayed slightly. He really had been pampered well—his fair skin practically begged to be bitten.

Lin Jiang was a man with needs after all. His throat moved slightly as his fingers unconsciously slipped under Shen Ju’s shirt, pulling him closer by the waist.

Shen Ju tore off his shirt, the jade pendant brushing against Lin Jiang’s face as their arms entwined. They were soon locked in a passionate kiss.

Shen Ju’s kissing remained utterly unskilled yet fiercely intense, enough to stir desire all the same.

Sometimes Lin Jiang also wanted to consume him completely. Usually cold and abstinent, he had little desire, but undeniably Shen Ju awakened the cravings in his heart.

He yanked Shen Ju down forcefully, hands already gripping that slender waist, but the sight of the bruise from a recent injection on Shen Ju’s wrist gave him pause.

Shen Ju was too delicate, and his body was so tense that forcing it would definitely cause injury.

Lin Jiang sighed. “Forget it.”

Shen Ju thought for a moment, then suddenly sat up. “I’lI get the lube.”

As soon as he stood from the sofa, Lin Jiang grabbed his hand.

Lin Jiang lay sprawled on the couch, his clothes disheveled, one hand covering his face. The sunlight from the window spilled over him, making him look so pristine it was almost divine.

He seemed to hear Lin Jiang sigh again. “No need.”

Shen Ju paused. “Are you… uncomfortable with me?”

Lin Jiang laughed, sounding helpless. “Shen Ju… I really can’t resist you.”

Lin Jiang sat up, still holding his hand.

He looked up at him and shared his thoughts. “Shen Ju, I’ve never had much of a drive in this area. At first, it was just novelty, so I indulged you. But now that we’ve settled into a routine, I know I don’t have the same needs as you. So don’t measure me by your standards. If I’m uncomfortable, I’ll say so. Don’t worry, okay?”

Shen Ju opened his eyes wide, feeling a little guilty that his thoughts had been seen through, but after hearing him speak, his worries lessened greatly.

He buried himself in Lin Jiang’s embrace, reassured. “Lin Jiang, you should’ve said so earlier. You have no idea how worried I was. Worried you’d see someone better out there and run off…”

Lin Jiang suddenly laughed, making Shen Ju’s face burn.

Truthfully, Shen Ju didn’t need to worry about that. Lin Jiang had already seen better, but in the end, Shen Ju was still the one who suited him best.

The two of them squeezed onto the same sofa, holding each other. Just being together was their happiest time.

Lately, Lin Jiang had been accompanying Shen Ju through his hand injury treatment, which was nearly finished. Lin Jiang suggested, “Want to go on a trip?”

Although Shen Ju’s family was wealthy, everyone was very busy. Most of the time they were either in meetings or in training. Forget traveling, even amusement parks were something Lin Jiang had to take him to for the first time.

He nodded, then hesitated. “Would it affect my return to the team?”

Lin Jiang smiled gently, brushing the messy hair from Shen Ju’s ear. “Don’t worry. I’ve already discussed it with Manager Du. The secondary team and Song Zhixu will handle the German Cup. I’ll stay with you.”

Shen Ju’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Then where are we going? You’ve already planned it, haven’t you?”

Lin Jiang only smiled, deliberately watching him squirm without giving a straight answer.

Frustrated, Shen Ju wanted to bite him but couldn’t bring himself to, so he just paced in place.

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  意难平 (yì nán píng) – often used for unresolved relationships or emotional situations.